Florida State Parks has announced the winners of its 2025 Capture the Real Florida Photo Contest, which highlights photography taken across the state’s parks and historic sites. The contest recognized a Grand Prize, Runner-Up, and People’s Choice Award in five categories: Landscapes, Waterscapes, Wildlife, Park Adventures, and Historic Encounters—a category added this year to mark America’s 250th anniversary.
Thousands of entries were submitted from across Florida. Chuck Hatcher, Director of Florida State Parks, commented on the annual event: “Every year, our visitors capture breathtaking moments that remind us why our state parks are among the most treasured places in the country. Thank you to everyone who shared their images. I invite all Floridians to get out and discover our state parks and maybe even grab that perfect shot.”
The Grand Prize winners for each category are:
– Landscapes: Shane Carrol for “Not Alone,” photographed at Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park in Sanderson.
– Waterscapes: Dawn Campbell for “Early Dawn,” taken at Silver Springs State Park in Ocala.
– Wildlife: Michelle Huguet for “Eyes of the Forest,” captured at Myakka River State Park in Sarasota.
– Park Adventures: Heather Bossowski for “A Camp Sunrise at Gamble Rogers,” depicting a beachfront sunrise at Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area in Flagler Beach.
– Historic Encounters: Valleri Ames for “Echoes of Bulow Plantation,” photographed at Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park in Ormond Beach.
Winning photographs—including those awarded Runner-Up and People’s Choice—are available to view on the Photo Contest webpage. Each Grand Prize winner received a $1,000 B&H Photo gift card, a Florida State Parks Annual Pass, a stand-up paddleboard, and a hammock.
Starting this month, winning photos will be displayed at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park during its Winter Waterland celebration.
Florida’s network includes 175 award-winning state parks, trails, and historic sites. The photo contest is organized with support from Tyler Technologies, which manages reservations for overnight stays throughout Florida’s state park system.
The next contest cycle begins January 1, 2026. Photographers can submit their entries starting November 2026 after spending the year capturing images. Florida State Parks encourages both photographers and nature enthusiasts to explore outdoors and share their own perspectives of “the Real Florida.”
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